Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (far left in 2013) defended New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (second from right) for his press conference Thursday.

Rudy Giuliani is one of the few Republicans declaring their support for Chris Christie for a “very refreshing” press conference, defending the New Jersey Governor for not shying away from the media over the Bridgegate scandal.

“The President runs away from press conferences like this,” Giuliani said Friday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” lauding Christie for spending nearly two hours answering questions from the press and immediately firing his top aide who instigated the scandal.

He “acted like a chief executive” Giuliani, 69, added in his interview from West Palm Beach, Fla. - lauding the Governor for “very definitive answers.

“He handled it about as well as he could handle it.”

Christie, 51, has been likened to the ex New York City mayor for his tough-as-nails style and Giuliani admitted “you create a few more enemies” if you don’t play the usual political game.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus did not publicly address the scandal until Friday, saying in a statement, "Governor Christie did the right thing and demonstrated what leaders do when actions of the team are unacceptable and wrong. I wish President Obama would be as transparent and open as Governor Christie."

Christie leads the Republican Governors Association and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was one of the few members to stand in support with Christie, expressing her support after his press conference.

“I've watched my friend Gov. Christie work through a difficult situation today. He did the right thing in taking responsibility in a tough situation. That’s the kind of leadership that earned him the huge level of trust he has in New Jersey,” Haley said Thursday in a statement.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie spoke for 1 hour and 47 minutes during a news conference Thursday, at the Statehouse in Trenton. N.J.

(Matt Rourke/AP)

But South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham didn't have much praise for Christie on Thursday.

"It seems to me that this whole bridge thing reinforces a narrative that's troublesome about the guy, he's kind of a bully," he told NBC News.

Graham, who is running for reelection, later backtracked from the incendiary comment, telling CNN, "I’m very impressed with the contrite nature in taking responsibility. In today’s political environment it was a breath of fresh air and I think he handled it as well as he could… He took every question, didn’t dodge, I think he went a long way to helping himself today."